Table-actuating mechanism for milling-machines.



PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

. LEDGAR. TABLE AGTUATING MECHANISM FOR MILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 29, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wilma-e6 No; 790,039. PATENTED MAY 1 6, 1905.

' J. EDGAR. i I TABLE AG TUA TING MECHANISM FOR MILLING MACHINES. IAPPLICATION FILED OUT. 29, 1902.

' a SHBETSSHBET 2.

PATENTBD MAY 16, 1 905.

J. EDGAR. TABLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR MILLING MACHINES.

- APPLICATION FILED OUT. 29, 1902- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I f/aaamzfvr @Zj Z w 1 -u nu u UNITED STATES" Patented May 16, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EDGAR, OF HYDEPARK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BECKER- BRAINARDMILLING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A

CORPORATION OF MAINE.

TABLE-ACTUATINGMECHANISM FOR MILLING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,039, dated May 16,1905. Application filed October 29, 1902. Serial No. 129,240.

To wZZ whont it Hen/y concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EDGAR, a subject of the King of Great Britainand Ireland, residing at Hydepark. in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinTable- Actuating Mechanism for Milling-Machines; and I do herebydeclare the following to bea full, clear. and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improved table-actuating mechanismfor milling-machines or other machine-tools in which a movablework-supporting tableis employed.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanismautomatic in its action for quickly returning the table to its initialposition after it has completed its work-feeding' movement.

With this object in view my invention consists in the constructions,combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, which possess certain advantages as to simplicity ofconstruction and arrangement and certainty of operation,'as will beobvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

A milling-machine or other machine tool embodying my invention comprisesa drivingshaft, mechanism actuated thereby to impart to the table afeeding movement and a return movement, means for moving thedrivingshaft to throw the mechanism for imparting a feeding movement tothe table out of operation and to throw the mechanism for imparting areturn movement to the table into operation when the table reaches theend of its feeding movement, and means for throwing the mechanism forimparting a return movement to the table out of operation when the tablereaches the end of its return movement. Ta ble-actuating mechanismshaving these general features of construction and operation haveheretofore been devised. In order to render such mechanisms more certainand reliable in operation, a feature of my invention considered, themechanism connecting the driving-shaft andtable may be of any suitableconstruction.

Other features of my invention contemplate providing a mechanism forimparting a return movementto the feed-table of improved construction,arrangement, and mode of operation. 'As to these features theconstruction and arrangement of the mechanism for imparting a feedmovement to the table are immaterial, as any suitable mechanism may beused. The mechanism which I prefer to employ .for this purpose comprisesa worm on the driving-shaft, a Worm-gear with which the worm on thedriving-shaft engages during the feeding movement of the table, andconnections between the worm-gear and the table.

Those features of my invention which relate to the construction andarrangement of the mechanism for imparting a return movement to thetable are embodied in a .construction comprising a gear on thedriving-shaft, agear With which the gear on the driving-shaft isarranged to be brought into engagement when the driving-shaft is movedto throw the worm thereon out of mesh with the worm-gear, andconnections between the gear with which the gear on the driving-shaft isbrought into engagement and thetable- In accordance with my inventionthis gear is movably'mounted, and means are provided whereby thismovable gear is moved to throw it out'of mesh with the gear on thedriving-shaft when the table reaches the limit of its return movement.Other novel features of this mechanism consist of means whereby themovement of the movable gear releases the driving-shaft to allow it tobe moved to throw the worm thereon into mesh with the worm-gear. ofmeans for locking the movable gear in position to be engaged by the gearon the drivingshaft, and of a connection between the movable gear andthe driving-shaft for returning the gear to locking position when thedriving-shaft is moved to throw the worm thereon into mesh with theworm-gear. In the illustrated embodiment of these features of myinvention hereinafter specifically described the connections between themovable gear and the table for imparting a return movement to the tablecomprise a gear secured to a shaft mounted in fixed bearings. Themovable gear is mounted upon a carrier pivotally supported upon saidshaft and is thereby maintained in mesh with the gear thereon at alltimes. The movable gear is locked in position to be engaged by the gearon the driving-shaft by means of a locking device, which engages thecarrier and which is arranged to be actuated to release the carrier whenthe table reaches the end of its return movement. The driving-shaft islocked in the position to which it is moved to throw the gear thereoninto mesh with the movable gear by means of a locking device, which isarranged to be actuated to release the d rivingshaft by the carrier forthe movable gear during its movement in throwing the movable gear out ofmesh with the gear on the driving-shaft. A connection between thedrivingshaft and the carrier returns the carrier into a position to beengaged by its locking device when the driving-shaft is moved to throwthe mechanism for imparting a feed movement to the table into operation.

The specific construction of the mechanism above referred to will beclearly understood from an inspection of the drawings accompanying thisapplication, in which Figure l is a view in side elevation of a portionof a milling-machine with a preferred form of my invention appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a detailview of a portion of the mechanism for imparting a return movement tothe table, the parts being shown in the position which they assumeduring the return movement of the table. Fig. 1 is a view similar toFig. 3, showing the position which the parts assume at the end of thereturn movement of the table. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on theline 5 5 of Fig. 1, illustrating the position of certain parts of themechanism for imparting a return movement to the table during thefeeding movement of the table; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of themechanism at the left-hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

1 indicates the frame of the machine, which is provided with guidewaysupon which the saddle 2 is mounted.

3 indicates the feed-table, which is mounted to reciprocate in guidewaysin the saddle 9.. In the saddle 2 a feed-shaft is journalcd by which thetable 3 is engaged and actuated, as is common in this class of machines.To the end of the feed-shaft a gear 4- is secured, with which agear-wheel 5 meshes, secured to a shaft 6, mounted in bearings in thesaddle 2 below and parallel with the feed -shaft. Also secured to theshaft 6 or to the gear-wheel 5 so as to rotate therewith is a worm-gear7 and with this worm-gear a worm 8 upon a driving-shaft 9 is arranged toengage, the construction being such that when the worm 8 is in mesh withthe worm-gear 7 the feed-shaft is rotated in a direction to impart afeeding movement to the table 3. The driving-shaft 9 is driven from ashaft 10 and is connected thereto by means of a universal joint whichallows the shaft to be moved to throw the worm 8 into and out of meshwith the worm-gear 7. The shaft 9 is held in the position in which theworm 8 is in mesh with the worm-wheel 7 by means of a lever 11, which ispivoted upon a bracket secured to the saddle 2. At its lower end thelever 11 carries a block 12, pivotally mounted thereon, through whichthe shaft 9 passes, and near its upper end it is provided with a lug 13,which is arranged to be engaged by .1. latch-lever l hpivotallymountedupon the saddle 2. To the latch-lever 14 a leaf-spring 15 is seenred,thc free end of which engages a pin 16 upon the saddle 2 0.: thebracket secured thereto. The end of the latch-lever 14 opposite to thatwhich is arranged to engage the projection 13 of the lever 11 extendsinto a position to be engaged by the cam-surface of a block 17,adjustably secured to the table 3. The spring 15 tends to hold thelatch-lever in a position in which one arm is in engagement with the lug13 of the lever 11 and the other arm extends into the path of movementof the block 17. By the engagement of the latch-lever 14 withthe lug 13of the lever 11 the driving-shaft 9 is held in its raised position, asindicated in Fig. 1, with the arm 8 in mesh with the worm-gear 7, untilthe table reaches the limit of its feeding movement, at which time thelatch 11 is actuated by the engagement therewith of the cam-surface ofthe block 17, the lever 11 is released, and the shaft 9 is allowed todrop and throw the worm 8 out of mesh with the worm-gear 7.

The driving-shaft 9 is supported at one end by means of the universaljoint which connects it with the shaft 10 and at the other end by abearing-block 18, mounted to slide in a vertical slot in a bracket 19,secured to the frame of the machine. A coiled spring 20 is interposedbetween the bearing-block 18 and the upper wall of the slot in thebracket 19 and serves as a means for moving the shaft 9 to throw theworm 8 out of meshwith the worm-gear 7 at the end of the feedingmovement of the table in case the shaft fails to be so moved by gravity.A gear 21 is secured to the shaft in proximity to the bracket 19 and isarranged to be thrown into mesh with a gear 22 when the driving-shaft 9is moved to disengage the worm 8 from the worm-gear 7. The gear 22meshes with a gear 23, secured to a shaft 24, mounted in hearings in thebracket 19. Also secured to the shaft 24 is a sprocket-wheel 25, overwhich a sprocket-chain 26 (indicated in dotted lines in the drawings)passes. The sprocket-chain 26 also passes over a sprocketwheel 27,secured upon a shaft 28, mounted in hearings in the frame of the machineat right angles to the shaft 6. The shaft 28 has a splined connectionwith a beveled gear 29,

' worm 8 and at an increased speed, and thereby through the gears 5 and4 the feed-shaft is rotated at an increased speed in a direction toreturn the table to its initial position.

A hand-wheel 31 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 28, by means ofwhich the shaft can be rotated by hand to move the table in eitherdirection when the mechanism for actuating the table automatically isout of operation.

When the table reaches the end of its return movement, the gear 22 ismoved to throw it out of mesh with the gear 21. To allow it to be somoved, the gear 22 is mounted upon a carrier 32, pivotally supportedupon the shaft 24. The gear 22 is mounted on the inner end of thecarrier 32, and the outer end of the carrier is provided with a lockingshoulder or recess, which is arranged to be engaged'by a locking-pawl33. The arrangement of the shoulder or recess on the carrier andthelocking-pawl is such that the carrier is locked in position by thepawl to allow the gear 21 to be throwninto mesh with the gear 22 whenthe driving-shaft 9 is moved to disengage the worm 8 from the worm-gear7. The lockingpawl 33 is secured to a rock-shaft 34, jour' naled inbearings on the side of the machineframe. A leaf-spring 3.5, secured toone of the bearings for the shaft 34 and engaging a pin on thelocking-pawl, tends to move the pawl in a direction to engage thecarrier 32. At the end of the return movement of the table the pawl 33is actuated to release the carrier by means of a block or stud 36,adjustably secured to the table, which engages the'upper end of a rod37, secured to the rock-shaft 34. As soon as the carrier 32 is releasedby the pawl 33 it is moved by gravity or by means of a leaf-spring 38,secured to the frame of the machine and bearing against the inner end ofthe carrier, in a direction to throw the gear 22 out of mesh with thegear 21. The driving-shaft 9 is held in the position to which it ismoved to throw the gear 21 into mesh with the gear 22 during the returnmovement of the feed-table by means of a locking-pawl 39, pivotallymounted upon the bracket 19. A leafspring v4O is secured to the pawl 39and bears against the frame of the machine, and this spring as soon asthe shaft 9 is moved to throw the gear 21 into mesh with the gear 22moves the pawl 39 into the position illustrated in Fig. 3, in whichposition the pawl engages a pin 41, projecting from the block 18, inwhich the end of the shaft 9 is journaled, and locks the shaft inposition. Before the shaft 9 can be raised to throw the worm 8 intoengagement with the worm-gear 7 in order to impart another feedingmovement to the table after it has been returned to its initial positionthe pawl 39 must be actuated to release the driving-shaft. To so actuatethe pawl,a projection 42 is provided at the inner end of the carrier 32,which during the movement of the carrier in a direction to throw thegear 22 out of mesh with the gear 21 engages a pin 43, projecting fromthe pawl 39, and thereby swings the pawl against the tension of thespring 40 into the position illustrated in Fig. 4.

When the shaft 9 is raised to throw the worm 8 into mesh with theworm-gear 7, it is necessary that the carrier 32 be returned to 9 theposition in which 1t is engaged by the lockingpawl 33 in order that thegear 21 may be thrown into mesh with the gear 22 when the driving-shaftis moved to disengage the worm 8 from the Worm-gear 7at the end of thefeed ing movement of the table. To return the carrier to its lockingposition, the link 44 is provided, the lower end of which is pivotallyconnected with thecarrier and. the upper end of which is provided with aslot 45, through which the driving-shaft 9 passes. The carrier is thusreturned by the link 44 during the upward movement of the shaft 9 intoa-position to be engaged by, its locking-pawl, and the slot 45 of thelink allows the shaft 9 to drop to throw the gear 21 into mesh with thegear 22 at the end of the feeding movement of the table. Thedriving-shaft 9 may be raised to bring the worm 8 into mesh with thewormge'ar 7 by means of the lever 11 or by means of a l:1and-lever 46,secured to a rock-shaft 47,

to which is also secured an arm 48, extending A beneath the end of theshaft 9. v

Briefly stated, the operation of the mechanism above described is asfollows: Starting with the parts in the positions indicated in Figs. 1,2, 5, and 6, which are the positions which the parts assume during thefeeding movement of the table, the table is moved un til the block 17actuates the latch 14 to release the lever 11. The driving-shaft 9 thendrops to throw the worm 8 out of mesh with the worm-gear 7 and the gear21 into mesh with the gear 22. The shaft is locked in this position bythe engagement of the pawl 39 with the pin 4:1.on the bearing-block 18,the posi- 7 tion of the parts at this point in the operation beingillustrated in Fig. 3. The table 3 is now returned at an increased speedto its initial position. As it reaches the end of its return movementthe block 36 contacts with the rod 37 and the locking-pawl 33 isactuated to release the carrier 32. The carrier then moves in adirection to throw the gear 22 out of mesh with the gear 21 and at thesame time actuates the locking-pawl 39 to release the drivingshaft. Theposition which the parts assume at this point in the operation isindicated in Fig. 4. As soon as the gear 22 is thrown out of mesh withthe gear 21 the table comes to rest and remains disconnected from thedriving-shaft until the driving-shaft is raised to bring the worm 8 intomesh with the wormgear 7. When it is desired to again throw themechanism for actuating the table into operation, the shaft 9 is raisedeither by means of the lever 11 or of the lever A6, and the parts assumethe positions indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6.

The mechanism which I have illustrated in the drawings and specificallydescribed embodies my invention in the best form at present known to me.It is to be understood, however, that except as defined in the claims myinvention is not limited thereto nor to any particular construction orarrangement of parts.

Having thus indicated the nature and scope of my invention and havingspecifically described a preferred form thereof, I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1.Amilling-machine, having, in combination, a table, a driving-shaft,mechanism actuated thereby to impart to the table a feeding movement anda return movement, means for moving the driving-shaft to throw themechanism for imparting a feeding movement to the table out of operationand to throw the mechanism for imparting a return movement to the tableinto operation when the table reaches the end of its feeding movement,and means acting automatically to lock the driving-shaft in suchposition, substantially as described.

2. A milling-machine, having, in combination, a table, a driving-shaft,mechanism actuated thereby to impart to the table a feeding movement anda return movement, means for moving the driving-shaft to throw themechanism forimparting a feeding movement to the table out of operationand to throw the mechanism for imparting a return movement to the tableinto operation when the table reaches the end of its feeding movement,means acting automatically to lock the driving-shaft in such position,and automaticallyacting means for unlocking the driving-shaft and forthrowing the mechanism for imparting a return movement to the table outof operation when the table reaches the end of its return movement,substantially as described.

3. A milling-machine, having, in combination, a table, a driving-shaft,mechanism aetuated thereby to impart to the table a feeding movement, agear on the driving-slntlt, a movable gear and intermediate connectionsfor imparting to the table a return movement, means for moving thedriving-shaft to throw the mechanism for imparting a feeding movement tothe table out of operation and to throw the gear on the driving-shaftinto mesh with the movable gear when the table reaches the end of itsfeeding movement, and means for moving the movable gear to throw it outol mesh with the gear on the driving-shaft when the table reaches theend of its return movement, substantially as described.

4. A milling-machine, having, in combination, a table, a driving-shaft,mechanism actuated thereby to impart to the table a feeding movement, agear on the driving-shaft, a movable gear and intermediate connectimisfor imparting to the table a return movement, means for moving thedriving-shaft to throw the mechanism for inmarting a feeding movement tothe table out of operation and to throw the gear on the driving-shaftinto mesh with the movable gear when the table reaches the end of itsfeeding movement, means for locking the movable gear in position to beengaged by the gear on the driving-shaft, and means for releasing themovable gear and for moving it out of mesh with the gear on thedriving-shaft when the table reaches the end of its return movement,substantially as described.

5. A milling-machine, having, in combination, a driving shaft, mechanismactuated thereby to impart to the table a feeding movement, a gear onthe driving-shaft, a movable gear and intermediate connections forimparting to the table a return movement, means for moving thedriving-shaft to throw the mechanism for impartinga feeding movement tothe table out of operation and to throw the gear on the driving-shaftinto mesh with the movable gear when the table reaches the end of itsfeeding movement, means for locking the movable gear in position to beengaged by the gear on the driving-shaft, means for releasing themovable gear and for moving it out of mesh with the gear on thedrivingshaft when the table reaches the end of its return movement, andconnections between the driving-shaft and the movable gear for returningthe movable gear to locking position when the driving-shaft is moved tothrow the mechanism for imparting to the table a feeding movement intooperation, substantially as described.

6. A milling-machine, having, in combination, a table, a d rivingshaft,mechanism actnated thereby to impart to the table a feeding movement, agear on the d riving-slmft, a movable gear and intermediate connectionsfor imparting to the table a return movement, means for moving-thedriving-shaft to throw the mechanism for imparting-a feedlng movement tothe table out of operation and to throw the gear on the driving-shaftinto mesh with:

the movable gear when the table reaches the end of its feeding movement,means for locking the driving-shaft in such position, means for lockingthe movable gear in position to be engaged by the gear on thedriving-shaft,

means for releasing the movable gear and for moving it out of mesh w1ththe gear on the 7. A milling-machine, having, in combina-.

tion, a table, a driving-shaft, mechanism actuated thereby to impart tothe table a feeding movement, a gear on the driving-shaft, a movablegear and intermediate connections for imparting to the table a returnmovement, means for moving the driving-shaft to throw the mechanism forimparting a feeding movement to the table out of operation and to throwthe gear on the driving-shaft into mesh with the movable gear when thetable reaches the end of its feeding movement, means for looking thedriving-shaft in such position, means for locking the movable gear inposition to be engaged by the gear on the driving-shaft, means forreleasing themovable gear and for moving it out of mesh with the gear onthe driving-shaft when the table reaches the end of its return movement,means actuated by the movement of the movable gear for releasing thedriving-shaft, and a connection between the driving-shaft and themovable gear for returning the movable gear to locking po sition whenthe driving-shaft is moved to throw the mechanism for imparting to thetable a feeding movement into operation, substantially as described.

8. A milling-machine, having, in combination, a table, adriving-shaft,mechanism actuated thereby to impart to the table a feeding movement, agear on the driving-shaft, a gear and intermediate connections forimparting to the table a return movement, an intermediate gear meshingwith said gear, a carrier therefor pivotally mounted concentrically withsaid gear, a locking device for said carrier, means for moving thedriving-shaft to throw the mechanism for imparting a feeding movement tothe table out of operation and to throw the gear on the driving-shaftinto mesh with the intermediate gear when the table reaches the end ofits feeding movement, and means for actuating the locking device of thecarrier to release the carrier and allow it to move to throwtheintermediate gear out of mesh with the gear on the driving-shaft whenthe table reaches the end of its return movement, substantially asdescribed.

presence of two witnesses.

, 9. A milling-machine, having, in combination, a table, adriving-shaft, mechanism actuated thereby to impart to the table afeeding movement, a gear on the driving-shaft, a gear and intermediateconnections for imparting to the table a return movement, anintermediate gear meshing with said gear, a carrier therefor pivotallymounted concentrically with said gear, a locking device for saidcarrier, means for moving the driving-shaft to throw the mechanism forimparting a feeding movement to the table out of operation and to throwthe gear on the driving-shaft into mesh with the intermediate gear whenthe table reaches the end of its feeding movement, means for actuatingthe locking device of the carrier to release the carrier and allow it tomove to throw the intermediate gear out of mesh with the gear on thedriving-shaft when the table reaches the end of its return movement, anda connection between the driving-shaft and the carrier for returning thecarrier into a position to be engaged by its locking device when thedriving shaft is moved to throw the mechanism for imparting a feedingmovement to the table intooperation, substantially as described.

10. A milling-machine, having, in combination, a table, a driving-shaft,mechanism actuated thereby to impart to the table a feeding movement, agear on the driving-shaft, a gear and intermediate connections forimparting to the table a return movement, an intermediate gear meshingwith said gear, a carrier therefor pivotally mounted concentrically withsaid gear, a locking device for said carrier, means for moving'thedriving-shaft to throw the mechanism for imparting a feeding movement tothe table out of operation and to throw the gear on the driving-shaftinto mesh with the intermediate gear when the table reaches'the end ofits feeding movement, a locking device for locking the driving-shaft insuch position, means for actuating the locking device of the carrier torelease the carrier and allow it to move to throw the intermediate gearout of mesh with the gear on the driving-shaft whenthe table reaches theend of its return movement, connections between the carrier and thelocking device for the drivingshaft for actuating the locking device torelease the driving-shaft, and a connection between the driving-shaftand the carrier for returning the carrier into a position to be engagedby its locking device when the 'drivingshaft is moved to throw themechanism for imparting a feeding movement to the table into operation,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in JOHN EDGAR.

Witnesses: t

HENRIETTA (J. RAYNER, ALFRED H.1IILDRETI-I.

ITO

